Just like a Wall Street stock report, N.C. State has seen its fair share of ups and downs this season.
After suffering a disappointing sweep at the hands of UCLA earlier in the year, the Wolfpack (31-13, 13-8 ACC) rattled off two non-conference wins before gaining a sweep off Boston College in Raleigh. Following its three straight losses to Clemson two weeks later, State once again bounced back to sweep Virginia.
With the top-ranked Tar Heels taking all three from the Pack this past weekend, State looks to continue its season-long streak of good play following sweeps as it hosts Miami on Friday for a three-game series.
“We’ve dealt with adversity all year long, and we’ve been able to bounce back,” senior outfielder Brian Aragon said. “This team’s still got a great attitude, and we’ll just take it one game at a time.”
The Canes (27-15, 12-9) enter Raleigh having, by their standards, what could be considered a below average year. Miami’s long-standing reputation as a national power is something that coach Elliott Avent and his team are very knowledgeable of.
“Miami has been a great program for so many years,” Avent said. “It’s a club we’re very familiar with.”
Last year the Pack dropped two of three to the Canes in Coral Gables during the regular season but claimed the final bragging rights by defeating them in the ACC Tournament in Jacksonville.
“We got the better of them last year,” Aragon said. “They’re just a great ball club with a great tradition.”
Miami, having lost nine of its last 14 games, enters the series in third place in the Coastal Division. Sophomore second baseman and Miami native Ramon Corona believes that the Canes can’t be counted out regardless of their record.
“Miami knows how to win,” Corona said. “You can’t take a team like that lightly no matter how they’re doing this year.”
One of the more disappointing facets of the Pack’s offense last weekend was the poor hitting with runners in scoring position. If the hitting struggles continue this week, State may have to look elsewhere for run support.
“As good of an offensive team as we are, we can’t always get hits,” Corona said. “We just have to find other ways.”
Although late in the season isn’t the ideal time to have the Pack’s hot bats cool off, Avent believes more opportunities at the plate for his team with RISP will lead to more success.
“It’s a hard thing to work on,” Avent said. “I think its something that you’re going to see us get better at as the season goes on.”
The pitching rotation for the weekend will consist of junior Gib Hobson on the hill Friday night, sophomore Eryk McConnell on Saturday and left-handed freshman Eric Surkamp on Sunday.
So far this season, the Pack, posting a record of 22-5 at home, have enjoyed a great deal of success within the confines of Dail Park. Avent believes, however, that the outcome of this series will have more to do with who plays better baseball rather than who is wearing the home uniform.
“Early in the year it’s about where you’re playing,” Avent said. “Late in the year it’s about how you’re playing.”
